Exotic Weaponmaster question (D&d 3.5)

[Wazirak1]

exotic weapon stunt :Trip allows you to make trip attacks with a one or two handed exotic weapon. So...could I do it with a....hand crossbow?

[Keld Denar]

No. Ranged Weapons do not have have handedness. There is no such thing as a light ranged weapon, or a 1handed ranged weapon, or a two handed ranged weapon. One handed and two handed are only designated for melee weapons (some of which can be thrown).

So no, you could not make a trip attack with a hand crossbow, because it does not fit into the category of "one handed or two handed weapons", despite the fact that you wield it with one hand.

[BowStreetRunner]

There are four broad classifications of Exotic Weapons for the purposes of the Exotic Weapon Stunt class ability: Exotic Light Weapons, Exotic One-Handed Weapons, Exotic Two-Handed Weapons, and Exotic Ranged Weapons. The first three classifications are also considered Exotic Melee Weapons. Some Exotic Two-Handed Weapons are also further classified as Exotic Double Weapons.

Hand Crossbow is an Exotic Ranged Weapon.

The Exotic Weapon Stunts that Hand Crossbows qualify for include Close-Quarters Ranged Combat, Ranged Disarm, Show Off, and Throw Exotic Weapon. Note that while Throw Exotic Weapon technically applies to any exotic weapon and even goes on to state that it can be used even if the weapon isn't designed to be thrown, there is no specific explanation of what the stats are for a hand crossbow used as a thrown weapon.